Presidential Search Committee

Rija Khan is Wichita State University’s Student Body President with the 63rd session of Student Government Association and the Chair of Student Advisory Council at Kansas Board of Regents. In the previous session of the Student Government Association, she served as the Freshman Senator, Liberal Arts & Sciences Senator, and Ways & Means Chair. Rija is also the founder and current Vice President of the first Muslim Sorority in the State of Kansas called Mu Delta Alpha Sorority Incorporated. She is a junior majoring in Criminal Justice while on a pre-law track and minoring in philosophy and political science.

 

 

 

Corinthian Kelly serves as a Graduate Student Council Representative for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Wichita State University. Corinthian is currently pursuing his Master's degree in Public Administration and will also receive certificates in City and County Management, Public Finance, and NonProfit Management in Spring 2021. He works as an Outreach Manager with TRIO Educational Opportunity Centers Program at WSU and in his role serves as a liaison to connect adults to their educational goals. A native of Newport News, Virginia, Corinthian previously directed an After-school Program in Baltimore, Maryland, and Richmond, Virginia, and also worked for USD 259. Corinthian is involved in a wide range of volunteer opportunities off campus, from being a mentor with Real Men Real Heroes, Inc. and a youth basketball coach, to serving as the Member at Large on the Sedgwick County Juvenile Justice Advisory Board.

 

 

 

 

Sierra Bonn is a senior at Wichita State University studying Engineering Technology Management with minors in Anthropology and Marketing. During her time at Wichita State, Sierra served for four years as a Transition Mentor, helping incoming students acclimate to becoming Shockers. In 2018, Sierra was named a University Innovation Fellow, a program that empowers students around the world to become agents of change in higher education. She has since served on numerous committees and leads projects ranging from most recently, helping to plan the Governor’s ribbon cutting of the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory at Wichita State to facilitating conflict resolution workshops for departments across campus. Sierra currently is employed by Wichita State’s Office of Technology Transfer and Commercialization, and works on her educational non-profit, “Let’s Go Full STEAM Ahead!” which focuses on STEAM education and engagement to empower the next generation of innovators.

 

Dr. Aleks Sternfeld-Dunn is Faculty Senate President and Director of the School of Music. Dr. SternfeldDunn joined the faculty in 2011 as an Assistant Professor of Music Compositions and Theory. His music has been recorded and performed throughout the U.S., Europe, Canada, and Asia by ensembles and organizations including the h2 Quartet, Kiev Philharmonic, The Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra, Huntsville Alabama Army Band, Composers Inc, Conundrum, The Yale Brass Trio, Scott/Garrison Duo, and Vox Novus. Dr. Sternfeld-Dunn is winner of the 2013 American Prize for Fireworks, The National Flute Associations 2013 Award for Newly Published Chamber Music Category for Urban Jungle and Best in Show Award from the Global Music Awards (2012) for his works Antiphonal Fanfare and Joker’s Wild. He has also received awards and funding from organizations like Meet the Composer, ASCAP and the Washington Visual, Performing, and Literary Art’s Committee.

 

 

 

 

Shirley Lefever is currently the Interim Executive Vice President and Provost at Wichita State University. Prior to this appointment, she served as the Dean of the College of Applied Studies (formerly College of Education) since 2015. She began her career at WSU in 2005 serving first as the Department Chair for Curriculum and Instruction followed by her role as the Associate Dean for the college. Lefever’s previous experiences in higher education include 14 years at the University of Arkansas. Prior to her career in higher education, she was a classroom teacher. She received her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction as well as her master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Kansas State University.

 

 

 

Dr. Melissa Walker arrived at the Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs with 20 years of program evaluation, finance and strategic planning experience. Since joining the faculty in 2006, she has played a leading role in the integration of nonprofit content in the MPA. Her primary teaching responsibilities include the capstone course in the MPA, human resource management as well as fundraising and financial management. Dr. Walker's policy research explores funding arrangements, performance outcomes and cost over time. These are important considerations, particularly when individuals experience a chronic condition such as intellectual and developmental disability (I/DD), cognitive and/or behavioral disability or addiction. The focus of her research is on the degree to which payment arrangements support early intervention and coordination of care. Dr. Walker has studied services used by individuals who experience I/DD, addiction (drug court) as well uninsured individuals who have diabetes. Dr. Walker was a postdoctoral fellow in the Center for Education in the Health Sciences at Northwestern University. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and holds an MPA from Harvard University.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Mehmet Bayram Yildirim is a professor in the Department of Industrial, Systems and Manufacturing Engineering at Wichita State University. He received a BS in Industrial Engineering from Bogazici University, Turkey in 1994; MS degree Industrial Engineering from Bilkent University, Turkey in 1996; and a PhD in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Florida in 2001. He has research interests in sustainability, analytics, applied optimization, sustainability, supply chain management, energy management and asset management. He teaches engineering economics at undergraduate level and supply chain management, supply chain analytics, network planning, lean supply chain management, strategic planning, and integrated supply and demand management at graduate level. Dr. Yildirim, a former faculty senate president, served as an WSU Faculty Ombudsperson during 2017-2020. He is currently chairing the Wichita State University Intercollegiate Athletics Association Board, President’s Innovation Advisory Committee and Faculty Support Committee. Dr. Yildirim is assistant director for Wichita State UniversityOklahoma State University Industrial Assessment Center. He is also the director for Systems, Energy and Analytics Laboratory. He is an editorial board member in the Journal of Business Analytics.

 

 

 

 

Trish Gandu serves as Assistant Director in the Dorothy and Bill Cohen Honors College and coordinates the National Student Exchange program for Wichita State. After working as a marketing professional for Wichita Clinic (now Via Christi), she started her career at WSU in 2005 in the Office of Admissions, managed the Dean's Scholars program and held brief leadership appointments with Housing and Residence Life and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. She's the 2020-21 Unclassified Professional Senate President and chair for the Unclassified Professional Senate Council. Active in the Wichita community, she’s held more than 10 committee and leadership appointments with the Junior League of Wichita. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in business administration from WSU.

 

 

 

Randy Sessions began his career at Wichita State University in the Electrical Engineering department in 1985, after having served in the Army for almost ten years. During his time at WSU, Randy has worked in the Engineering College (22.5 years), ITS Telecommunications (8 years), and the University Police Department (4.5 years). He has served under the following University Presidents: Armstrong, Hughes, Beggs, Bardo, and Golden, as well as those named interim between those presidents. Randy is the current President of the University Support Staff Senate (previously called the Classified Senate) and has held this position three times throughout his career. He served as the chair of the Alternative Service Committee, which determined if the move from Classified service to University Support Staff service was a viable option for WSU staff. Randy has also participated on several university level committees, including search committees, most recently to select a new Provost. Randy is married with five children and eleven grandchildren, and many of his family members are WSU alumni.

 

 

Sheree Utash has served as President of Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech) since 2015. Prior to that, she served eight years at Wichita Area Technical College as vice president of academic affairs. With over 8,000 students, WSU Tech is the largest technical college in Kansas and acts as managing partner for the National Center for Aviation Training. Utash offers a unique blend of teaching, administrative and leadership experience in both higher education and private industry. She has provided administrative oversight for the College's academic programs, with emphases in manufacturing, aviation, design, IT, specialized trades, healthcare and general education. She has overseen faculty, grants management, adult literacy, and academic planning and resource management. Her role involved the formation and leadership of the lead institution for the National Aviation Consortium, a $15 million grant project with direct working relationships with two-year colleges in five states. Additionally, Utash managed and facilitated the recent affiliation of WATC with Wichita State University to create WSU Tech. Utash earned her Ed.D. in Community College Leadership at National American University, a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies in Communication / Education / Sociology from Wichita State University and a Bachelor of Science in Journalism / Marketing from Kansas State University.

 

 

John Tomblin is the Senior Vice President for Industry and Defense Programs at Wichita State University (WSU) and the Executive Director of the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR). He is also a Sam Bloomfield Distinguished Professor of Aerospace Engineering. As Senior Vice President for Industry and Defense Programs, Dr. Tomblin leads and directs critical university initiatives, including but not limited to, industry and defense research and testing, innovative technologies and solutions, industry engagement, and other programs that advance WSU’s mission to be an economic driver. As Executive Director of NIAR, Dr. Tomblin oversees eighteen laboratories in four locations encompassing over 1,000,000 square feet, 850 employees and a yearly budget of nearly $140 million. Under his leadership, NIAR has gained worldwide recognition in the area of composites and advanced materials; full-scale testing and structural teardown, advanced manufacturing, reverse engineering as well as greatly expanded its capabilities and footprint. Dr. Tomblin received his Ph.D., master’s degree and bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV. He resides in Wichita, KS with his wife Katharine and three sons. Dr. Tomblin joined Wichita State University in 1994 as a professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering.

 

 

With more than 40 years of experience in higher education, Elizabeth King has served as CEO of the Wichita State University Foundation since 1991, becoming President & CEO in 2006. Between 1991 and 2006, Elizabeth also held the title of Vice President for University Advancement, responsible for the Foundation as well as University Communications and Marketing, the Ulrich Museum and the Board of Trustees. She is the youngest vice president ever named at Wichita State and the second female vice president. Since her arrival, the WSU Foundation’s assets have grown from $54 million to $369 million. Most recently, she led the Foundation to raise nearly $308 million in its Shock the World Campaign, on a goal of $250 million. Elizabeth has been recognized professionally by receiving the CASE Commonfund Institutionally-Related Foundation Award (2009) for executive leadership. She was named as one of the “50 Kansans You Should Know” in the January 2012 issue of Ingram’s, Kansas City’s business magazine. In 2018, Elizabeth was inducted into the Wichita Women in Business Hall of Fame, having been named to the inaugural class in 2003. She is especially grateful to have received the Wichita State University Alumni Association Recognition Award in 2006. Elizabeth earned her Bachelor of Arts from Wheaton College and her Masters of Education and Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of North Texas. She is married to Don, and they have two adult sons.

 

Jeffrey “Jeff” L. Turner retired April 5, 2013 as President and CEO of Spirit AeroSystems, Inc., a position he had held since June 2005, upon the divestiture of the Boeing Commercial Airplanes Wichita Division. A Kansas native, Mr. Turner worked for The Boeing Company more than 30 years. Mr. Turner received a B.S. in Mathematics and Computer Science in 1973 and a M.S. in Engineering Management Science in 1977, both from Wichita State University. In 1984, he was selected as a Boeing Sloan Fellow to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Sloan School of Management, where he earned a Master’s Degree in Management. Mr. Turner in a partner in the Turner Nichols Williams Group, which focuses on developing and growing small businesses in the Wichita area. He served on the Board of Directors of Rockwell Collins and Spirit AeroSystems and serves on the board of INTRUST Bank. He is also very involved in the local community having served on a number of boards and Co-Chaired the community Leadership Council, as well as the Board of Directors for “Doc’s Friends”, a non-profit organization leading the effort to restore one of the last remaining B-29 aircraft to flying condition. Jeff and his wife, Rhonda, are active members of their church and have two adult children and five grandchildren.

Junetta Everett, a Wichita State University (WSU) graduate and Registered Dental Hygienist is the VP of Professional Relations for Delta Dental of Kansas where she was responsible for the strategy, relationships, recruitment, compliance and all aspects of the provider network for 33 years. Junetta serves on the Board of the Wichita Chamber of Commerce where she claims the role of the first person of color and only the sixth female to Chair the Board of Directors. She has served on various advisory committees and Boards at WSU including the Dental Hygiene Advisory Board, AEGD steering committee, Alumni Association Board, and Shocker Athletic Scholarship Organization (SASO) where she served as President. She is currently serving on the College of Health Profession Deans’ Advisory Board, the National Advisory Council, and the WSU Foundation Board. Junetta has started an endowed scholarship for the Dental Hygiene program. She has been honored with numerous awards and recognitions for her efforts as a woman in business and intentional inclusion. Most recently she received the 2020 WBJ Diversity and Inclusion Award and was inducted into the TKAAM Trailblazers Hall of Fame. She is married to Victor Everett, retired State Farm Agent and the proud parents of five sons and eight grandchildren.

 

 

 

After earning a degree in business administration from Kansas State University and an MBA in finance from Northwestern University, Charlie Chandler returned to Wichita in 1976 to join First National Bank in Wichita, now INTRUST Bank. In 1996, he was elected chairman of the board and president and CEO of INTRUST Bank, becoming the fourth generation of Chandlers to lead the bank. In January 2009, he was elected chairman of the board, president and CEO of INTRUST Financial Corporation. Charlie served as a board member of Westar Energy from 1999 until 2018 including 16 years as Chairman of the Board. He then served as Lead Independent Director of Evergy, Inc. until 2020. In addition, he serves as Co-Chair of the Greater Wichita Partnership, President and Chairman of the Kansas Society for Children with Challenges, a member of the Wesley Medical Center Board of Trustees, a member of the Executive Committee of the

 

 

 

Steven Packebush is a founder and partner in Elevar Partners, LLC, providing advisory and consulting services and capital solutions for companies in the agriculture and energy markets. Prior to Elevar Partners, Packebush was with Koch Industries, Inc. for over 30 years, retiring in March 2018 from his role as the commercial leader and president of Koch Ag & Energy Solutions. He currently serves on the LSB Industries, Inc., EuroChem Group AG, and Monolith Materials, Inc. Board of Directors, Wichita State University Board of Trustees, Kansas State University Dean’s Agriculture Advisory Board, and The Fundamental Learning Center and YMCA Metropolitan Board of Directors. He is a 1987 graduate of Kansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics.

Yolanda Camarena has served as Director of Admissions for Newman University, Associate Director of Graduate Programs at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University and served as the Regional Coordinator for the LULAC Educational Service Center in Wichita, Kansas. She currently serves as a board member of the Kansas Hispanic Education and Development Foundation, Chair of the Schools and Scholarship Committee of Harvard College, serves on the Grants Committee and Board of the Wichita Community Foundation and on the Board of League 42. Camarena holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from Wichita State University, a Master’s in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, and was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letter from Newman University in 2015. She has two daughters, and her husband is Gene Camarena.

 

 

 

John Rolfe is the Chief Business Officer at the Kansas Leadership Center (KLC), where he directs all business operations, business development and community outreach efforts. KLC has a civic engagement mission and focuses on leadership development and transformation across Kansas and beyond for stronger, healthier and more prosperous Kansas communities. Before joining KLC, John served as Chief Operating Officer for Houston First Corporation in Houston, Texas and was the CEO and President of Go Wichita Convention & Visitors Bureau. He has also served as Deputy Secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce and in other economic development and marketing positions. John is a graduate of Wichita State University, Wichita, KS, holding a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He continues to be involved in various boards and civic organizations which focus on education, youth, travel and tourism, the arts and leadership. John is married to Felicia, and they have two daughters.

 

 

 

 

Paul Allen served as chief executive of Allen, Gibbs & Houlik, L.C. (AGH) since 1987. Paul is a certified public accountant and in addition to audit and accounting, he has an extensive background in business mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning, financial structuring, operations review and contracting. Currently, Paul serves on the executive committees of the Greater Wichita Partnership and the Wichita Community Foundation, as well as an advisory board member for the Salvation Army. He previously served as chairman and board member for the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce, Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition and Visit Wichita. Paul is a Wichita State University alumnus and serves on the advisory council for the WSU W. Frank Barton School of Business. He previously served on the boards and as chairman and president respectively for the WSU Foundation and the WSU Alumni Association. Paul was honored in 2012 with the WSU Foundation Board of Trustees Award and in 2006 with the Alumnus Recognition Award. Paul was named an Executive of the Year in 2020 by the Wichita Business Journal, inducted into the Junior Achievement of Wichita Business Hall of Fame in 2015 and recognized as one of 50 Kansans You Should Know in Ingram’s magazine.